It's a Living

All facts (14)

1. #001

   The series was never a hit on network television, but its fortunes reversed when all 27 episodes aired again in 1983. Reruns began drawing surprising ratings as well as a following, which led the producers and Golden West Television to bring the show back. Another factor in its sudden rediscovery was Ann Jillian's public announcement in 1984, the year the series' revival was announced, that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

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2. #002

   Among the entire cast, only Gail Edwards (Dot Higgins), Marian Mercer (Nancy Beebe Miller), Barrie Youngfellow (Jan Hoffmeyer Gray) and Paul Kreppel (Sonny Mann) remained through the series' network and syndicated runs. Ann Jillian (Cassie Cranston) appeared during the network run and the first year of syndication. Crystal Bernard and Richard Stahl were present throughout the entire syndicated run.

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3. #003

   In 1985 the series was revived for the syndication market under its former title. Most of the cast remained from the previous version. Amy Tompkins (Crystal Bernard), a new waitress at the restaurant, arrived and was immediately accepted by the group. When Jillian decided to leave the series in 1986 (she had agreed to only one season in syndication and also wanted to continue her breast cancer treatment), her character was written as marrying and starting a family. Ginger St. James (Sheryl Lee Ralph) replaced her. With this core cast in place, the series continued producing episodes for syndication until it ended in 1989.

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4. #004

   In season 3, Jan (Barrie Youngfellow) marries Richie Gray, played by Richard Kline. Both Youngfellow and Kline appeared on the popular series Three's Company. Kline was a regular member of the cast for several seasons as Jack's best friend Larry. Youngfellow guest-starred in an episode playing Jack's date.

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5. #005

   The hotel that houses Above the Top is the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles.

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6. #006

   Throughout the series it was mentioned several times that Nancy started as a waitress at Above the Top when it first opened in 1965. Over the years she slowly advanced and in 1980 became the restaurant's manager/hostess.

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7. #007

   The set used for Louise Lasser's character Maggie McBurney's house was later reused in flashback scenes as Petrillo's Brooklyn apartment in another Witt/Thomas/Harris show, The Golden Girls.

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8. #008

   In addition to acting on the series, Paul Kreppel would also direct six episodes of the show.

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9. #009

   Marian Mercer, Richard Stahl and Louise Lasser would appear as guest stars and/or take on recurring roles in other Witt/Thomas/Harris series, chiefly The Golden Girls and Empty Nest.

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10. #010

    When the series was revived for syndication, Louise Lasser was added to the cast, following the success of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, with the intention of partly restructuring the show as a vehicle for her. Lasser left after one season.

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11. #011

    This was the second show produced by Paul Junger Witt/Tony Thomas without Susan Harris, who worked with Witt but was not involved in the production of the series.

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12. #012

    Season 2's cook, Earl Boen (who replaced Bert Remsen from the first season), was replaced in season 3 (the first syndicated season) by Richard Stahl, an actor who closely resembled Boen.

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13. #013

    The first season's top-billed star, Susan Sullivan, who played the waitresses' oldest mentor, was fired (she soon found work as one of the leads on Falcon Crest) and was replaced in season 2 by Louise Lasser, perhaps to bring a solid sitcom performer into the mix to boost ratings after her starring role in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. But she too was fired the following season.

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14. #014

    Wendy Schaal played the good, innocent girl in season 1. After being fired in season 2, she was not replaced. In season 3, however, Crystal Bernard's character is extremely similar and essentially takes her place.

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